UofSC Theatre Presents Student's Original Comedy OUTLAW SONG

UofSC student Ryan Stevens directs the premiere of his outlandish original comedy Outlaw Song in the Lab Theatre, February 23 -26.

Show times are 8pm nightly. Admission is $5, with tickets available only at the door. The Lab Theatre is located at 1400 Wheat Street, on the first floor of the Booker T. Washington building.

The story follows U.S. marshal Roberta Weiss as she tracks the antics of outlaw Billie Baxter through a serene western town. Driven largely by female actors, the play explores power relationships and exploits typical hero-villain tropes.

The production is underscored by another unexpected element: Mexican wrestling. Wrestler "El Soso" adds yet another layer to the chaos inflicted on the Old Western town. Stevens says he was inspired by the artistry of the profession.

In addition to the antics of the outlaws and theatrical wrestling matches, the play features live music, building from a single musician to a small band led by musical director Lochlan Angle.

While this is the play's first full staging, Stevens organized a reading of the script last year at the University. Stevens, a BA graduate of the English program, is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Theatre. In 2015, another of his original plays, Player King, was picked up for publication by the British publisher Stagescripts, Ltd. Player King was first staged at the Lab Theatre in April of that same year.

The cast features undergraduate actors Carrie Chalfant, William Quant, Abigail Lee McNeely, Sam Traquina, Rachael Bates, Anna Percuoco, David Neil Edwards, Lochlan Angle, Susanna McElveen, and Lane Christopher.

For more information on Outlaw Song or the theatre program at the University of South Carolina, contact Kevin Bush by phone at 803.777.9353 or via email at bushk@mailbox.sc.edu.